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Hammer Tools for Your Tool Box

You should have at least a small variety of hammer tools in your garage tool kit. There are a number of specialty hammers that could be added to the list, but these are suggestions for having all the basics to get most of your jobs done well.

Claw hammers are absolute must-have hand tools in all but pure auto tool kits. A 16 to 20 ounce claw hammer will handle most household and garage tasks you’ll encounter. You might also want a smaller one for tacking-type tasks and for working in tight spaces.

Tack hammers are useful for smaller jobs from hanging pictures to furniture repair. They are usually better balanced than very small claw hammers and will do a better job if you include one in your tool box.

Rubber mallets are very helpful when you need to hammer something but using a steel-headed claw hammer will damage the object being hammered. The heavy but softer head of the rubber mallet can accomplish the work of a classic hammer without hurting the object being worked on.

Ball peen hammers , though designed for metalworking tasks, are also good workers in your garage tool kit. They are excellent for hammering chisels, punches, and rivets, along with working on unhardened metal.

This collection of hammer tools should give you the versatility to handle most creative and repair tasks you’ll face. As you become more experienced, you might want to add one or more specialty hammer tools to give you even more options to complete your tool related jobs.

Basic Garden Hand Tools

Whether you are planning on installing a flower garden, English garden, or vegetable garden, there are some basic garden hand tools you should not be without. Here are some suggestions for a working garden hand tool set:

  • Bow rake – Allows you to level your soil and remove unwanted clumps of grass, waste, and rocks.
  • Spading fork – Allows you to open up and aerate your soil – looks a bit like a small pitchfork, a mini garden tool.
  • Round-end shovel – Allows you to complete serious digging projects, particularly if you’re going to install shrub-like plants or small trees.
  • Hoe – Allows you to weed and cultivate your garden to keep your plants happy.
  • Watering can – Allows you to gently water your plants, particularly seedlings, giving them a relaxing shower versus a wet torrent from a hose or sprinkler.
There are certainly many other tools you’ll purchase in the future but this group will give you all the ability you need to start and cultivate a garden of any type.